Transgender Parents

Background

Over the past five years I have written a number of journal articles focused on the parenting experiences of transgender people, especially with regard to experiences of discrimination. I have run a survey and conducted interviews with Jennifer Power and Henry von Doussa focused on the parenting experiences of Australian transgender and gender diverse people. I have written about this research for The Drum. I have also examined the media representations of transgender men and pregnancy. In addition, I have written about the experiences of transgender parents in relation to their children’s schools, including in the book Transgender People and Education (2017, Palgrave Macmillan), written with Clare Bartholomaeus.

I am also conducting two new projects about transgender people and fertility/parenting. One of these projects focuses on fertility preservation (with Clare Bartholomaeus). This project explores how transgender and non-binary adults, and parents of transgender and non-binary children make decisions about fertility preservation, and their experiences of undertaking fertility preservation in the Australian context.

The other project is an international study with Sally Hines, Ruth Pearce, Carla Pfeffer, Elisabetta Ruspini, and Francis White about transmasculine practices of reproduction in Australia, the UK, the US, and Europe. This project seeks to gain an in-depth understanding of the practices, experiences, and health care needs of Australian transmasculine people (i.e., transgender men and masculine non-binary people) in relation to pregnancy, both in terms of past experiences and future intentions. More information is available on the project website.

A full list of my research publications on the topic of transgender parents can be found further down the page, and are drawn on in the applications of research findings sections below. I have recently contributed to a new Australian Psychological Society information sheet on transgender people and fertility preservation, available here.

Applications of research findings for practitioners

The research examining parenting in relation to trans and gender diverse Australians found that older participants were more likely to have children and younger participants were more likely to desire to have children in the future. Participants who had children variously gave birth, their partner gave birth, or they became a parent via foster care or step parenting. Three quarters of participants with children said that their children knew they were trans or gender diverse. Participants who planned to have children in the future intended for their partner to give birth, intended to foster or adopted, or indicated that they intended to give birth. The findings suggest that there may be a relationship between support from family of origin and plans to have children. The findings from interviews also suggest that some participants re-imagined parenthood in different terms (e.g. step-parenthood) or by creating different family forms (e.g. co-parented families). These findings suggest that practitioners need to provide support for trans and gender diverse people, as they may not have support from their families of origin and they may view themselves as having limited pathways to parenthood. The findings also suggest that practitioners need to make sure trans and gender diverse people are aware of the many different ways they may become parents, if they would like to. Practitioners also need to provide gender-affirming support, including in relation to prenatal, antenatal, and postnatal care (if relevant).

Trans and gender diverse people who transition later in life may experience a lack of support from their children, and this can have significant ramifications as they age or if they have significant health issues. This is shown in my analysis of KrysAnne’s story as portrayed in the documentary Gen Silent, where the lack of support she receives from her children means it is particularly isolating for her when she has lung cancer and will no longer be able to live on her own. Coupled with this is the fear KrysAnne had of how she would be treated by medical professionals, meaning that she delayed her treatment for the cancer. These findings show that practitioners need to always be affirming when working with trans and gender diverse people, and to outwardly promote that they are affirming so people do not delay medical treatment. In addition practitioners need to be aware that trans and gender diverse people with adult children may not receive any practical or emotional support from their children, and thus may need other avenues to receive this support.

Applications of research findings for (intending) parents and families

The research examining parenting in relation to trans and gender diverse Australians found that older participants were more likely to have children, and had these children via giving birth, their partner giving birth, or becoming a parent via foster care or step parenting. Younger participants were more likely to desire to have children in the future. Participants who planned to have children in the future intended for their partner to give birth, intended to foster or adopted, or indicated that they intended to give birth. The findings from interviews also suggest that some participants re-imagined parenthood in different terms (e.g. step-parenthood) or by creating different family forms (e.g. co-parented families). These findings show that there are many ways for trans and gender diverse people to have children, and suggest people who intend to have children could explore the different options available to them.

Trans and gender diverse people who transition later in life may experience a lack of support from their children, and this can have significant ramifications as they age or if they have significant health issues. This is shown in my analysis of KrysAnne’s story as portrayed in the documentary Gen Silent, where the lack of support she receives from her children means it is particularly isolating for her when she has lung cancer and will no longer be able to live on her own. Coupled with this is the fear KrysAnne had of how she would be treated by medical professionals, meaning that she delayed her treatment for the cancer. These findings highlight that children may not always be supportive of parents who transition later in life, and it may be useful to seek out supports to help build relationships with children as well as seeking out other forms of supports when this isn’t possible. In addition, it is important for trans and gender diverse parents who have significant health issues to seek medical help. Whilst it is understandable that some people delay medical treatment due to fear of how they will be treated by professionals, it may be possible to deliberately seek out medical professionals who are affirming and knowledgeable about working with trans and gender diverse people.

De Sutter, P. (2009). Reproductive options for transpeople: Recommendations for revision of the WPATH’s standards of care. International Journal of Transgenderism, 11(3), 183-185.

De Sutter, P., Kira, K., Verschoor, A., & Hotimsky, A. (2002). The desire to have children and the preservation of fertility in transsexual women: A survey. International Journal of Transgenderism, 6(3).